An important lightweight fight has been added to UFC 183.
The UFC has booked Joe Lauzon (24-9) vs. Al Iaquinta (10-3-1) for the Jan. 31 card in Las Vegas, Newsday first reported on Wednesday, and the UFC subsequently confirmed the news with MMAFighting.com.
Lauzon, a winner in his last two fights, was supposed to fight Diego Sanchez at UFC 180 on Nov. 15, however, he withdrew from the fight due to injured ribs. He most recently defeated Michael Chiesa and Mac Danzig.
The fight is without a doubt the most high profile of Iaquinta’s young career. Iaquinta, who trains out of LAW MMA with UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman, defeated Ross Pearson via TKO earlier this month after finishing Rodrigo Damm the same way in September. The 27-year-old “Ultimate Fighter” finalist is considered one of the rising stars in the UFC’s lightweight division.
UFC 183, headlined by Anderson Silva vs. Nick Diaz, will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.